Opposition demands proof that sick leader is improving

Nigeria's most vocal opposition party, the Action Congress, wants proof of government claims that President Umaru Yar'Adua's health is improving. Its spokesperson told RFI that the ruling party is behaving as if it does not have to account to the Nigerian population.

Garba Shehu, who speaks on behalf of Action Party leader and former Nigerian Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, says the President’s refusal to appear before the people of Nigeria, is detrimental to national well-being.

“The story is that he is getting better. So why can’t he present himself before the television, or record a message?" he asks. "We have just come through the New Year and traditionally the head of state would do a national radio address to the citizens."



Yar'Adua has not been seen nor heard from him since he left the country for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia on 23 November.

The Action Congress is calling for a dated video recording of the President, sitting or standing, from his hospital room.

The move was also prompted by last week’s 2009 Supplementary Budget, which the President reportedly approved and signed. But the Action Congress says it is concerned that there is no proof it was actually Yar'Adua who signed.

The party is urging the President to legally transfer his powers to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan, in line with the Nigerian constitution.

In one of the three lawsuits challenging the government's position on the issue, the Nigerian Bar Association is asking the Federal High Court to compel the Attorney-General to answer questions relating to Yar’Adua's health.

On Tuesday the court, in Abuja, directed the three plaintiffs to consolidate their cases to force Yar’Adua to hand over power to Jonathan while he remains in Saudi Arabia.

Shehu says that Nigeria is fortunate to have a judicial system that can often be very “activist”.

“The courts in the land have the capacity to force an unwilling President to do the right thing by handing over to a deputy,” he says. "As it is now, we are just in a limbo."